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Dust Mites Fact Sheet

Much smaller than a grain of sand, dust mites are too tiny to be seen with the human eye.

At least 10% of the human population and approximately 80% of allergy sufferers are allergic to proteins that are found in the waste and decomposed body parts of dust mites.

Dust mite allergen is the number one cause of perennial allergic rhinitis.

If you often wake up with congestion, a runny nose, watery eyes, itching, or sneezing, then you are probably allergic to dust mites.

Dust mites flourish in warm, humid environments.

Your bed is the perfect environment for dust mites; they love to burrow into fabric and feast on your dead skin cells. Humans shed one to three pounds of skin a year, plenty of food for millions of dust mites.

A gram (about a half teaspoon) of dust contains as many as 1,000 dust mites and 250,000 allergenic dust mite fecal pellets.

Dust mite populations increase rapidly. Each egg-laying female can increase the population by 25 or 30 new mites per week.

Depending on its age, your mattress may house between one million and ten million dust mites.

During its 80-day lifespan, the average dust mite produces about 1,000 allergen waste particles.

The weight of the average mattress doubles after ten years due to dust mite infestation, and the weight of the average pillow increases 10% after one year.

Dust mite populations peak during the hot, humid months of July and August.

Dust mites grow best at 75-80% relative humidity, and they cannot survive when the humidity is below 50%.

A Johns Hopkins University study showed that "mite population and allergen levels decreased by 90% or more within a month of placing mattress and pillow covers and treating bedding.

AchooAllergy.com Can Help!

To control the dust mite population in your home, alleviate your allergy symptoms, and breathe better, we recommend that you take the following steps. And it's not just us. Multiple universities, the CDC, the National Institute of Health, the AAAAI, and other organizations recommend some or all of these environmental control measures as effective ways to reduce your exposure to the dust mite allergen:

Encase your mattress and pillows with allergy bedding to form an impenetrable barrier between you and the dust mite allergens. It is especially important to note pore size on mattress and pillow covers. Our highest quality allergy bedding, Allergy Armor Ultra, has a pore size of less than 2.8 microns, and is woven so tightly that the vast majority of allergens cannot penetrate. Unlike dust mite bedding with larger pores, Allergy Armor Ultra also blocks out animal dander. Studies by the National Institute of Health and others have shown that a woven, barrier fabric with an average pore size of less than 10 microns is best for reducing allergic and asthmatic reactions from dust mites and pet dander.

Frequently wash all bedding used on top of your encasings in hot water. The allergy mattress covers should be washed two to four times per year. Drying at high heat can also kill dust mites, though for some fabrics, this isn't advisable.

Unfortunately, for safety reasons, most washing machines do not use water hot enough (140Â°F) to kill all dust mites. Fortunately, AchooAllergy.com offers a laundry wash and dust mite laundry additive that kill dust mites in any temperature of water. Use these additives if hot water washing is not possible.

Vacuum your mattress with a HEPA vacuum cleaner before putting on your allergy bedding. Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter entraps allergens and prevents them from blowing out through the exhaust.

Dust mites also thrive in carpets and upholstery. Use our dust mite powder to clean carpets. Vacuum as if your life depends on it. If possible, replace carpet all together. If medically advised/prescribed by a doctor, the cost of the replacement may be tax deductible.

Avoid upholstered furniture. Bedding, carpet and upholstered furniture are the three primary safehavens for dust mites.

Keep your clothing in a closet with the door shut. Consider using a laundry additive such as Allersearch Allergen Wash or a full allergen laundry detergent to get rid of dust mite and other allergens on your clothes.

Use an Acu-Rite Humidity Gauge to monitor and reduce humidity by using an air conditioner or a dehumidifier. Dust mites grow best at 75-80% relative humidity and cannot live with humidity below 50%.

Run a HEPA air purifier, which can remove dust, airborne dust mite waste particles, and other allergens from the air.

AchooAllergy.com Customer Service

AchooAllergy.com provides the highest quality products at the most affordable prices. Our allergy relief bedding represents the best dust mite barriers on the market today.

AchooAllergy.com offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on all allergy bedding products. Compare this to some of our competitors, who charge restocking fees or refuse to accept returns if the package has been opened.

We offer free shipping on orders over $150 in the continental United States.

Allersearch Allergen WashSimply washing your laundry will not remove dust mites and dust mite allergens, unless the water is hotter than 140 degrees. However, most washers do not get this hot, and frequent hot water washings can damage fabrics. Allersearch Allergen Wash can remove allergens in any temperature. Regularly wash bedding with Allersearch Allergen Wash to keep the dust mites in your bed to a minimum.

de-mite Laundry AdditiveUse this laundry additive to remove dust mite allergens from your laundry, while washing at standard temperatures. Just wash your bedding and any other items with about 2 tablespoons of de-mite. One 8-oz bottle lasts for 11-12 loads, and de-mite is completely safe for all washable fabrics.

Santa Fe Classic DehumidifierDust mites, mold, and reaction causing insects like cockroaches love humidity, so its important to keep home humidity levels below 50%. Achoo! Allergy recommends the Santa Fe Classic Basement dehumidifier. It's rugged, built right here in the U.S., is extremely energy efficient and removes excess moisture and humidity effectively in basements or crawlspaces - places where mold and insects love to hide.

Miele Kona Vacuum CleanerThe lightweight, sleek Miele Kona vacuum cleaner may not make cleaning jump-up-and-down fun, but it definitely makes cleaning easier and more effective, especially if you have allergies. The sealed system and HEPA filter make the Miele Kona ideal for allergy sufferers.